POLA VENKAIAH  CHETTY (PVC)

-A great ‘Sthitha Pragnya’

Friday, November 5, 2010

A communiqué to Shri PVC from Gandham Laxminarayana

Parama Poojya Shri PVC Uncle,

My Shata Sahasra Koti Pranams to you. 

This communiqué is to recollect the great values that you have lived in your life and to reflect on the same to question ourselves as –Why we cannot follow at least some of the values you have lived, if not all.

I consider it is a great honour and my good fortune to pen the great qualities of your good self.  I sincerely thank the Almighty for giving me this opportunity.

It is extremely difficult to write about a personality like yours, who is credited with so many honours for serving the society, doing good to poor and needy and spending till date the entire life in service of others.

The few lines I write here may not necessarily reflect the entire personality of yours, as you are a Gandhian, a devotee of great sages like Swami Shivananda, Sri Ramakrishna Parmahamsa, and Swami Vivekananda.  You had even demonstrated that you can serve the poorest of the poor like Mother Teresa.

You are a businessman, like Janaka Maharaja in the sense that the wealth earned in the business did not come in the way of serving others.  You had the wealth, but wealth never possessed you.

In Bhagwad Gita the Lord Krishna has defined ‘Sthitha Pragnya’

(Man of Steady Wisdom) in terms of the qualities such a person need to possess.  As per Lord Krishna, ‘Sthitha Pragnya’ will be the one who is

• Free from desires but doing his duty
• Free from attachment
• Free from likes and dislikes
• Free from anger
• Free from ‘I’ – ness/Ego

and who can maintain

• Equanimity
• Indriya Nigraha(Control of senses)

Uncle! When I go through your life sketch I find that you possess all the qualities of a Sthitha Pragnya.  One single statement about you proves that you are a Sthitha Pragnya i.e. ‘YOU ALWAYS LIVED YOUR LIFE FOR THE GOOD AND BETTERMENT OF OTHERS’

You have been a ‘Karma Yogi’, all through your life.  You believed in simplicity and also lived a very simple life though you could afford for a luxurious living.

You were inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and till today lived as a true Gandhian following the principles taught by him.

Your life is highly influenced by the teachings of Swami Shivananda, Sri Ramakrishna Parmahamsa, and Swami Vivekananda.  You propagated the teachings of these Swamijis to many around you in Bellary.  You have been the President of the Bellary branch of ‘The Divine Life Society’ established by Swami Shivananda for twenty years.

The poem you wrote on ‘Steps to Divine Life’ on 1/5/2000 speaks volumes about your spiritual personality.  In fact it is a great message from you to all your family members and the general public.  The poem clearly indicates the values one should live.  Your life story tells us that you have lived all of them.

You believed and enjoyed in serving the poor.  You headed many charitable trusts.  You gave generous donations to many educational institutions, hostels, hospitals and kalyana kendras.

You provided food to leprosy patients, probably influenced by the work of Mother Teresa.  You fed poor people with food prepared at your home on many of your birthdays.  You have been the President of Harijan Seva Sangh as back as in 1955.  As a Rotarian too, you had served the society by helping the poor.

‘Paropa Karam Idam Shariram’ is 100% true in your case. 

You are the ‘Role Model ‘ not only for  your family members but also every individual who knows you.  There are many things that can be learned from your life.  Whenever I meet any of your family members, I see a bit of PVC (yourself) i.e your qualities of humility, contentment and simplicity.  By hereditary also, generations and generations of people in your family are likely to acquire your qualities.  I am able to see these qualities of yours even in my daughter in law Shilpa, who is your grand daughter (daughter of your daughter Smt Chandrakala, W/O of Sri MS Jagadishwara of Chikmagalur).  I am proud to say that a bit of PVC (yourself) is in my house also for the last twelve years.

Uncle, I have great respect and admiration for you.  You are the rarest of the rare in Vysya community.  In fact your life is an inspiration to every Vysya and Non Vysya who knows you.  You live forever in the minds of the people who are associated with you.  You are a real ‘Sthitha Pragnya’.

Words do not suffice to write about your personality.  You are a rare Diamond in Vysya community.   You are a multi faceted personality.  You are a businessman, a philanthropist, a social worker, a reformer and a Karma Yogi in true sense.  There was always a ‘yagnya spirit’ in every activity that you performed so far in your life.  So you are nothing less than a ‘Sthitha Pragnya’.

I wish a person much more closer to you than myself shall attempt to write your biography with all the real stories that will prompt many to live what you have lived for.

                                                                  With pranams at your feet

                                                         

                                                                  Gandham Laxminarayana

AS I KNOW HIM

Shri. Pola Venkaiah Chetty

(As I know him)

By R K Shroff

Former Secretary,

Mallasajjana Vyayama Shaala,

Bellary

I became a regular member of the Mallasajjana Vyayama Shaala after I joined service in Bellary in 1942. In those days, we used to organize Prabhata Pheris on important national festivals like the Independence Day on Jan 26^th and Martyrs’ Day on Aug 9^th every year. Shri. Pola Venkaiah Chetty was a regular participant in those programs. That was how I came into contact with him. Youngsters of the present generation would perhaps laugh at me for identifying Jan 26^th as Independence Day and Aug 9^th as Martyrs’ Day; but I am not wrong. Prior to 1947, Jan 26^th was observed as Independence Day – as per a resolution passed by the Indian National Congress in its session held at Lahore in December 1929; and Aug 9^th was observed as Martyrs’ day as a tribute to thousands of brave Indians who had laid down their lives in the cause of the freedom struggle – after Gandhiji gave his call to the nation – ‘Quit India’ for the British Government and ‘Do or Die’ for the Indians – from the sands of the Chaupaty beach in Bombay on Aug 8^th 1942. The Prabhata Pheris would start early in the morning, go round the streets of Bellary and culminate at the Samba Murthy Maidan in front of the City Bus Stand, adjacent to the Cosmopolitan Club. The national flag (consisting of the tricolor with the Charka in the middle) would be hoisted and we would all disperse.

Shri. Venkaiah is a self-made man. I was told that after learning the art of business and the tricks of the trade under a senior businessman, he started his own business under the banner of ‘The Lakshmi Iron Mart’. By dint of hard, honest and sincere work he made big strides and now they have spread their wings in various other branches of business – although we see only the Pola Paradise making its appearance on the television screen.

The traits I like most in Shri. Venkaiah are

(1)   His disciplined life

(2)   His love for Khaadi

(3)   His simplicity

He has been a strict disciplinarian throughout and instilled the same spirit in his children also; he would never allow the vulgar show of wealth by his children at any time; we know how easily riches can spoil the character of a rich child. Shri. Venkaiah loves wearing Khaadi, just as I do; a white jubbah, a dhoti and the Gandhi cap were the hallmark of his simple dress. His personal life was also very simple.

I came into greater contact with him after I was elected Secretary of the Vyayama Shaala in 1946 – in which post I continued for well over 25 years. Inside the Shaala compound there was an old building – a sort of Mantap – which we converted into a place suitable for accommodation dividing it into small rooms. There we provided free lodging for the students studying in the Govt. Polytechnic and the Veerashaiva College. Shri. Venkaiah helped us with money and material in accomplishing this. But the fact is that his contribution was known only to 4 or 5 of us, not known to any other members of the Shaala even, because Mr. Venkaiah was against all publicity. I am quite certain that he has helped many another worthy cause, but those acts of benevolence are not known to others for the simple reason that he dislikes publicity. I wouldn’t have penned these few lines either for the same reason, but for the fact that I could not rule out the request of Smt. Rajani, daughter of Mr. Venkaiah, and a great friend of my daughter Smt. Sandhya. This old hostel building was subsequently demolished and in its place there now stands the well known Gandhi Bhavan.

The last time I met him was in March 2002 when I had been to Bellary to attend a meeting held to condole the death of Shri. Bindu Madhav, the driving force behind all the activities of the Vyayama Shaala. Shri. Venkaiah was there and he reminisced his association with Bindu Meshtru as the latter was fondly addressed; they were both born in 1914 it seems. It is very unfortunate that I have not been able to travel to any place outside Bangalore after my trip to Bellary in March 2002. I have been confined to my residence in Bangalore after the surgical operation on my thigh in May 2002.

Before I conclude, let me express my happiness at the fact that Shri. Venkaiah has entered into his 97^th year. Whenever I think of someone crossing 80 years, a thought comes to my memory. On the 9^th of May, 1941, a news item appeared in the paper that morning (I was doing my B.A. in the college at Ananthpur at that time). Gurudev Tagore had completed eighty years of his life and Gandhiji had sent a telegram saying “Four score is not enough, may you complete five” and Tagore in his great humility, although a world renowned person, had replied “If four score has been useless, five would be intolerable”. I would like to make a little change in this wish and tell Mr. Venkaiah “Just 97 is not destination Mr. Venkaiah, go farther beyond 100 in good health and cheer”. May God grant this prayer

Appreciation

The Bellary District Chamber of Commerce & Industry (R) Bellary, in appreciation of Sri.Pola Venkaiah Chetty's "Service to Society and the various achievements made by him, has published an article in "Bellary Chamber News",  Volume 10 - August 2010.

AYYA - MY WONDERFUL FATHER

‘’Mavanavarantha adhrushtashali hindhe yendu huttilla mundhe yendu huttalla’’ These were the words of my brother in law Mr.Nagaraj Gupta (Hospet). Having seen my father for over 60 years now, Bava is aware of his nature both positive and negative.

I feel it is a matter of perception of how one feels about a person. I say this because to opine on a person whether he is positive or negative means to actually highlight our ‘ego’ and in this process we should correct it. Most of us perceived our father as ‘strict’. I feel this is an incomplete statement and over the years I have realised he is not just strict but actually a strict disciplinarian. We have seen this in many instances with his manners, principles, punctuality etc. Rajani has appropriately highlighted this in her blog on how my father used to be on time. This is the discipline he followed ........ and he still follows.

My father is a self made man. He got married at a young age of 16. Despite this he completed his education. He gave a lot of importance to education and he wanted all of his children to complete their studies. He wanted all of us to be graduates. Even after a long day’s work he used to come home and help my elder brothers and sisters in their school work. I being the youngest of his children was not lucky enough to get his guidance in studies and even to this day I regret missing this interaction with him. By the time I started my schooling he had lots of responsibilities to take care of both at the business front and at home and I feel this was the reason for this. On the other hand he used to drop me to school every morning in his car and in the evening he used to pick me up. At times he had to wait for 10-15 minutes for me to finish at school but he patiently waited. I really miss those days. This quality of his has taught me the importance of spending quality time with family. Nowadays we are busy in our own world that we fail to give time for our children (family). I feel very lucky to be born to such dedicated parents.

My father had a strict exterior but was very protective and caring of us. He never said ‘no’ to our wants and needs. He ensured we got the best quality in whatever we wanted. Nowadays we say that we are very tired at the end of the day after the household chores but despite having 11 children to look after, never did our parents every say that they were tired to look after us. One day my father was filling a tub with water. My mother suggested to him to take help from one of us for which my father replied ‘’Manamu kanindedhi valki cheseki valtho chepinchukoneki kadhu’’ (We beget children so that we do things for them not to get things done from them).

I should say my mother supported my father very well in all walks of life. Though my mother’s name is Balalakshmi it’s more befitting to say that she was truly a Bhagyalakshmi in my father’s life. And with this ‘Bhagya’ my father enjoyed all the maximum gruhastha celebrations namely 60th Birthday, 70th Birthday, 80th Birthday, 60th Wedding anniversary, kanakabishekam as a couple. They performed the marriages of all their children with the same enthusiasm and dedication. My father was there when my elder daughter Shilpa’s marriage was being fixed. He proudly mentioned to me then that he was mediating for a marriage for the 24th time. He clearly records all his dealings and incidents in his mind and his memory power is superb even today at the ripe age of 97.

My father is a man with principles. He never liked bargaining in shops. If a customer bargained and gave a few rupees less he would return the whole amount back. When he went out shopping he followed this principle and never bargained in shops. He is one of the leading businessmen in Bellary. He achieved this without compromising any family ties. In spite of having such a busy family and business life I do not know how he used to find time for social work. He did all these activities with full dedication and never for the sake of doing it. He is a practical man and never talks unnecessarily. I am reminded of the proverb ‘ Mathu adidare ayithu. Muthu hodidare hoyithu’ (Words once spoken can’t be taken back like a diamond once broken can’t be mended). We lose credibility and respect by talking unnecessarily but my father commanded respect with his few words which always had relevance to the situation.

Once there was an excursion planned from our school and I went to my father to ask for permission. For whatever reason he said no. Obviously like any other child tears started rolling down my cheeks and I burst out crying. Seeing this, my father eventually agreed to send me to the school trip. When I went to him to seek permission for future trips he used to remind me of this episode and say ‘If I say no then you will cry. So go and enjoy’

Once we were all going in a bus to Harapanahalli for our uncle P.C.Pandu’s marriage. On the way we encountered a cart with flowers, milk etc. In delight my father pointed this out to me as I was sitting next to him. Not realising that this was a good omen I asked him ‘Is this bad?’ To this my father became angry and pointed out ‘Ninni convent lo chedvichindhanki nuvvu itle matladathi’ implying I did not pay heed to hindu culture and traditions. It is no surprise to anybody the importance he has given to Hindu culture and traditions. He wears Khadhi even today and you can see books relating to Hinduism, philosophy, Adhyathma etc in his room which he reads daily. In the name of ‘’progress’’ and ‘’recognition’’ we aspire western tradition and attitudes and we are forgetting our own traditional values. My father did not preach this but he set a positive example by following it sincerely.

One Day my father was in the audience when I was part of the Republic Day parade. Though everybody said we had done well, my father congratulated me but at the same time corrected me by pointing out that my posture was wrong and my back was not straight. He always sought perfection in whatever he did and encouraged us to seek perfection as well. I quote a saying from Swami Vivekananda ‘EDUCATION IS THE MANIFESTATION OF PERFECTION ALREADY IN MAN’ My father is a living example for this as he encouraged all of us to have good education and in his daily activities he became a role model to us by seeking perfection in everything.

Chandrakala Jagadeeshwara

MY DAD TRULY "SELF MADE MAN"

My Dad “Self Made Man”

FATHER

F.....Fantastic and Forgiving
A.... Active and Athletic
T.....Trusting
H....Healthy, Helping, and Honorable
E....Extraordinary
R....Radiant, Rational, and Responsible

When Baby (Rajani) asked me to write about you, the first thought that came to my mind is how you managed to raise 11 children plus others. You took RESPONIBILITY of raising distant family members….by providing an education, good living,getting them jobs, performed their weddings.
Thus you settled their lives.

Radhika kept asking me “ How did you feel about tatha as a child? “. I said “ He was a TERROR”….and I shared my secret with her,”when I was a teenager, me being a social person.I would hang out and visit my friends. Numerous times I came home late and I would sneak through the back door(my little sisters Baby and Chandri or my sister-in-law Indravathi one of them would open the back door for me, so I would’nt get caught). we were all very SCARED of you “.

I also saw the other side of you .your GENEROUS and HELPING nature. I remember as a family we all would prepare milk with milk powder and would serve it to all the poor people on sabapathi street near lakshmi iron mart. CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME. We all learnt this at a very young age.

I very well remember visits to LEPROSY COLONY every year on your birthday to distribute rugs, bed sheets, food etc to the people in need. This is how you celebrated your birthday.
MANAVA SAEVAE YAE MADHAVA SAEVAE….perfectly suits you .

Also, Durning your business trips to Bombay and Bangalore, You brought us games like ludo, chess, trade,chinese checker, view master etc…You kept us up to date with the games .

After I completed my SSLC. I stopped going to school and I spent good 8 to 10 yrs helping my MOM at home . I was her right hand doing household chores. It was one of the BEST TIMES OF MY LIFE….This real experience came in handy and I was put to test after I got married and moved to
yet an other big family(my in laws). Shortly after, My mother in law Radhamma passed away and I had to step in her shoes, took her position of running the show. Even though I was a young bride, taking responsibility came very naturally to me without complaining only because of the time I had spent helping my MOM ( PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE WAS MY MOM) and also because of good upbringing and morals that you both taught me.

Ayya, You have numerous good qualities, but one that I feel I inherited from you and put in practice is WORK IS WORSHIP, which is the best asset I have.

I tell you today I am very proud to be born to you and mom. As your daughter I will try to follow your
foot steps to make this life purposeful and worthwhile to live.


Neeku Priyamaina Kuthuru
Devi ( Devaleela)

Dear Grandpa

Dear Thata

Good Day!This is Bharath your grand son living in Davangere.

Since i was a little child,

In all that I've been through;

You've always been my hero,

No one stood as tall as you.

You were the one who took the time,

To teach what i need to learn;

The lessons in life you shared with me,

You shared with love and concern.

I loved you as a little child,

And now that I am grown;

I share those lessons you taught me;

With children of my own.

Generation to generation,

I'll pass on your legacy;

I'll tell of my loving Grandfather,

And all that you mean to me.

I like to walk with Grandpa,

His steps are short like mine.

He doesn't say,"Now hurry up".

He always takes his time.

Most people are in a hurry,

They do not stop and see;

I'm glad God made Grandpa unrushed,

And almost as young as me.

With your blessings.....

Your Grand Son

Bharath Channagiri

Dear Thata,

Good Day! This is Sharath your grand son living in Bangalore.

We remember you always for all the good things you taught us in life while growing up as kids. As kids Bellary was our Disney Land as we used to visit Bellary on every summer holidays. The car journey from Davangere to Bellary was packed with full of excitement and energy as we used to eagerly wait to jump into your palatial home and get your blessings and meet all family members.

You taught us the power of simplicity and discipline; you showed us that by following Gandhian principles, good habits and healthy food, a person can live for 100 years. You taught me how to read horoscope so that I can find my best soul mate…. My beautiful wife is eagerly waiting to meet you and get your blessings. You are remembered as a Magic Thata with a golden hand who cherished in all the business you started.

You supported and gave strength to me and family members in our good times as well as in bad times. You are a living legend, role model and inspiration for generations to come. I remember the famous quote from Indira Gandhi on grandfather

“My grandfather once told me that there were two kinds of people: those who do the work, and those who take the credit. He told me to try to be in the first group. There was much less competition”
Indira Gandhi

Anyway me and my wife planning to visit you in Bellary soon….we prayed to God to give you more strength and energy for many more years to come.

With your Blessings….

Your Grand Son
Sharath Channageri

MY FATHER - MY ROLE MODEL

‘Eat to Live, and not Live to Eat'. This phrase must have been coined looking at my father. The simple diet he has set for himself is a great boon to his health. My God, what will power he has, not to get tempted at the goodies prepared everyday at home! However, he gives the credit of his good health to my mother. It is she who used to prepare food that is healthy for him, he says. It is also encouraging to see how my sisters-in-law continue my mother's tradition of cooking healthy food for him. I applaud everyone for their efforts and setting an example for all of us.

He is so punctual; you could set your watch by him, if it ever stopped. I remember traveling with him a lot, many a time to find a suitable match for one of my brothers. I still remember one time, when we were supposed to depart at 9 am. All of us were ready at 9:05, but my father was nowhere to be found. We looked all over the house, wondering how my father could be late. It is when one of us spotted him sitting in the car, waiting for us that we realized that we were late by 5 minutes. That day we all learnt that 9 am means 8:59:59 am for my father.

Even now when I travel I prefer to eat idlis, something my father taught me. It is easy to digest and comfortable while traveling he said. It makes me think of him when I order idlis while traveling even now.

Being the only child, he must have felt lonely growing up. Although he has never mentioned it, I feel that was the motivation to have 11 children. None of us have ever felt lonely. It is very encouraging to visit the home I was born and brought up in. When my children were young, we used to spend most of their holidays in Bellary. Even after all these years we are still welcome and we are still pampered like the little children of the house we once were. This credit not only goes to my parents, but also to my brothers and sisters-in-law, nephews and nieces and their spouses, and their children. I want to acknowledge everyone and especially my father for keeping this family so tightly knit together.

Talking about my father is incomplete without mentioning my mother. Her companionship has given my father a lot of strength and motivation, which he humbly acknowledges. Looking back at their harmonious time together gives me so much encouragement. Once he retired, I remember my father spending most of his time with my mother. He would play board games - baara gatta, pichala peeta - with her, and help her in any chores she did, like picking stones from the rice pile, or peeling vegetables. The only day I remember my father missing his meals is on May 1st 1998, the day my mother passed away. We all knew my father was very strong, his emotional side was seen on that day.

We all found a friend in him only after he retired. Till then when we heard his car horn, we would rush into the room; reduce the volume of the radio and so on. After his retirement, he sits with us for hours in the lawns of Hotel Pola Paradise, and share with us his childhood memories and his experiences in life.

Being a staunch follower of Mahatma Gandhi, he still wears only Khadi clothes. He used to take us to Khadi Emporium during Gandhi Jayanti and encourage us to buy Khadi towels or use the Khadi to stitch night clothes. That is his way of encouraging us to use Khadi in some or the other form.

For Ugadi festival he would buy new clothes for all of us and he would change his sacred thread (Janivaaram) and wear a new one on that day. And when asked he would say, he is happy seeing all of us in new clothes.

He maintains a diary with birthdays and anniversaries of all the family members and announces it to everyone on that day. It makes me feel special and loved when I hear from people who call to wish me that they were reminded of my birthday by my father.

There are many things small and big that remind me of my father day to day. I regret crying to go to school when I was young. I was studying at St. Philomena’s High School. For some reason which I don’t remember now, I didn't like that school and cried to go there. Finally my father shifted me to M.B.S.L High School, and I was very happy. He used to visit the school as chief-guest for the annual day, which made me very proud. Although I liked it then, I soon realised that studying in a telugu-medium school compromised my English. I carry the regret of not listening to my father.

Once during diwali festival, the house was full of diyas, and somehow my frock caught fire. My father came and rubbed the frock in between his palms to put off the fire. I was too young to remember, if he burnt his hands.

I remember he once gave me a gift envelope with some cash, which I promptly put in my purse. Then he quoted a saying in Telugu that "you should always count your money, even if you are throwing it into a well". I cultivated the habit of always counting money while giving or receiving, from that day.

I learnt from my father - not to trade but invest in the stock market. That advise has come in handy. I felt very happy when he gifted shares to me; hence I continued the tradition by gifting shares to my children, on special occasions.


When my Mother-in-law fractured her leg in the year 2000, I took care of her for some time. When he heard about this, he called me and said that "God does not give the opportunity of serving elders to everybody. You are blessed with this opportunity, so take care of her with a good heart." Those words were so encouraging and have made a lasting impression on me. His words came back ringing in my ears recently, when I visited him in the hospital on 29th Aug. 2010, with a fractured leg. I found at least 20 people in a day with a good heart, taking care of him in shifts. What advice he gave me 10 years back is coming back to him in many folds.


A special note:
I am blessed to have parents like you. There is not a single day I could feel differently. I thank you for everything you have done for me. I want to convey special thanks for finding a wonderful life partner for me. My husband is the best gift in my life, and I want to thank you for finding him for me.


Rajani Ramkumar

Radhika Remembers

Dearest Thata

I have three words to describe you

POLA…………PERSUASIVE
VENKAIAH….VIGILANT
CHETTY………CHARISMATIC

I have great memories of you to share …One incident that comes to my mind is

I was in Bellary during my summer vacation…..and Babu was teaching me how to drive a Car. We both got up early in the morning and decided to take your FIAT CAR without your permission for the ride. As I was still a student driver….I crashed your car in the ditch. Car was badly damaged….but luckily we both escaped with no injuries. We were so stressed out to tell you ……Believe me ! It took lot of guts for both of us to land in your room in front of you to tell our car story. My dear cousin Babu took the blame on him that he crashed the car. “ I was totally shaken up” …..You were so smart in recognizing the real culprit. When Babu said “ Thata I crashed your Car”.
You said” I can look at faces and can tell who actually crashed the Car”. At that moment I knew …”I was dead meat”. But …Instead you just smiled and said “ Be Careful next time”. It was a shock for us…Not getting Yelled from Thata.

The reason I say this because On Outside you appear very strict like a Army Sergeant….but inside you are very kind and caring. After this incident I was never scared of you ….I understood you .

Usually, Life is a give and take proposition…But In your case, You have always given your time, energy, love and advice and not expect anything in return ….Just shows your simplicity .

I want to wish you A very Joyous Happy 96 th Birthday. One of the biggest,warmest and gratifying rewards that any Grand Daughter can ask for is to have you as her GRANDPA.

“You are still Guarding/holding the Fort”.

Love
Radhika

Savan's Letter to Thata

Dear Great Thata

Namaste! My name is Savan. I am your Great Grand Son. I am 8 yrs old. We live in Westford ( Boston suburb) in US.

Congratulations! On your 96th Birthday ....Hip Hip Hooray. When Amma said that You are turning 97 yrs old."I said He is on his way to hit Century."

Amma talks about you all the time......You are her " FAVOURITE BOY FRIEND".

I know that you love to read books ( ME TOO), Only son to your Parents(ME TOO), You like to watch Cricket. By the way, You have a beautiful handwriting(I really need to work on my handwriting).
I was very much fascinated to see you in white clothes. I learnt in school that color White stands for Purity and kindness....qualities which you have.

Amma tells me that you are very Smart, Intelligent and Well Disciplined. That you never give up and never get distracted....You work at it...until its done. That's some Will Power you have.....( I get distracted  easily with video games).

I almost forgot to mention about your Amazing Memory that you have.....You never forget things. ( Your folks must have fed you lots of Badam, carrots and Okra for you to get good memory).

Anyways, I plan to visit you in your Bellary Castle next year around.
Even though I have not spent much time with you .....But I feel I know you for long time..because of all the good old stories that my Amma tells me.

You are ONE POPULAR THATA that every kid would like to have.

Thata. I Prayed to God today for you to get better soon.

LOVE
SAVAN

SRI. POLA VENKAIAH CHETTY

     Born in the year 1914, Sri. Pola Venkaiah Chetty had his early education in Molagavalli Village in Alur Taluk and his secondary education in The Municipal High School, Tadpatri (Anantapur District) upto V Form.  He passed his S.S.L.C. in The Municipal High School, Bellary in 1932.  Married Smt. Bala Lakshmamma on 11th December 1929.  He is blessed with Four sons and Seven daughters.  He is a staunch follower of Sri Mahatma Gandhi.  Since 1930, he wears only Khadi.

THE INSTITUTIONS IN WHICH HE SERVED IN VARIOUS CAPACITIES:

• He was the President of Bellary District Harijan Seva Sangha during 1955-56.

• He was the President of Bellary Taluk Amber Chakra Craft Co-operative Society from 1960 to 1962.  

•  He was also the President of the Bellary District Chamber of Commerce and Industry during 1968 & 1969.  

• He was the President of Sree Ramakrishna Vivekananda Centre, Bellary from 1980-87. 

•  He was the President of Municipal High School Old Students Association, Bellary from 1978-85 continuously. 

• He was the President of Cement Dealers Association, Bellary.

• He was the President of the Bellary District Arya Vysya Education Fund during the years 1971-72.

• He was the Secretary-Cum-Treasurer of The Provincial Vysya Education Fund, Bellary continuously for more than eleven years. 

• He was the Secretary of The Arya Vysya Association, Bellary from 1981 to 1983.   

• He was the Secretary of Sri Vasavi Kalyana Mandiram from its inception for a number of years.

• He is a Life Member in The Divine Life Society, RISHIKESH.  

• He was an Honorary Visitior to the Central Jail, Bellary. 

•  He was Non-Official Visitor to the Government Medical College Hospital, Bellary. 

• He was an Advisory Board Member of Karnataka State Sales Tax continuously for six years. 

•  He was a Municipal Councillor of Bellary City Municipality from 1957-61. 

• He was the President of The Bellary Rate Payers Association.

 

     He is the Founder of  M/s.LAKSHMI IRON MART, Bellary, started in the year 1939, which is now 71 years old and was started by the advice and guidance of his father-in-law late Sri.Vattam Chennakesavulu Setty and was developed by hard work and concentration single handedly.  He also started the firm M/s VARALAKSHMI HARDWARE MART, dealing in Paints & Hardware (in the year ----).   He is also the founder of M/s.JYOTHI OIL SYNDICATE, who are the First Dealers of INDIAN OIL COMPANY in Bellary District.  This was started in the year 1965.  He is the force behind his sons to start a HOTEL INDUSTRY, which is now a Land Mark in the City and has become popular throughout the States of Karnataka & Andhra Pradesh, known as "POLA PARADISE".

He believes in simple living and noble thinking.  He is a self made man.  His 60th Wedding Anniversary was celebrated on 7th of December 1989.


THE INSTITUTIONS IN WHICH HE SERVED AS A TRUSTEE AND STILL CONTINUES TO SERVE IN SOME OF THEM ARE:

1) MADDIKERI BHIMAIAH SONTHA LINGANNA EDUCATION TRUST. 

2) Sri SHARAD SEVA TRUST.

3) Sri VASAVI EDUCATION TRUST.

4) RAJA SUBBA BHOTLU CHARITIES, BELLARY.

5) GAMAKA KALA NIDHI JOLADHARASI DHODDANA GOUD SHASHTYABDI TRUST.


6) MUTHYALA NAGAPPA MUKTHIPADA ANNA SATRAM TRUST.


7) THE MUNICIPAL HIGH SCHOOL CENTENARY HALL TRUST.


8) THE PROVINCIAL VYSYA EDUCATION RESERVE FUND TRUST.


9) CHAIRMAN: SRI SWAMY SIVANANDA SEVA TRUST, BELLARY.


10) MANAGING TRUSTEE: POLA VENKAIAH CHETTY SMT. POLA BALA LAKSHMAMMA CHARITABLE TURST, BELLARY.


He was also a nominated Trustee of  SRI VASAVI KANYAKA PARAMESHWARI DHARMA PARIPALANA SAMSTHA, THIRUMALA for Three Years.